NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1941, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

ENTERTAINED BY PREMIER IN CAIRO DEEDS OF THE DIVISION PRAISED. GRATITUDE & ADMIRATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CAIRO, May 22. Laying aside all formality, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was host last evening to 1000 officers, n.c.o’s. and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The function took the form of a garden party held in the grounds of the Gezira Sporting Club. Mr Fraser met every man present. Pleasure at being able to express in some small manner the appreciation of the people of New Zealand for what the men had done and what they would do was voiced by Mr Fraser, who paid a tribute to what had been accomplished by lhe New Zealand Division in Greece. The Prime Minister said he was pleased he had been able to meet so many of the soldiers, and he wished those to whom he had spoken to pass on his greetings to those he might perhaps not have been able to see. He had found out, said Mr Fraser, in his brief conversations with the men that he had known at least some of the friends of most of them. On such an occasion he desired to pay a tribute to the boys who had sacrificed their lives for the cause. To the wounded he extended sincere sympathy and for the missing he could say that the thoughts of all were with them. To those still struggling back he wished the very best. “’I can only express the sincere admiration of the people of New Zealand for what has been accomplished,” he said. "May God speed and guard you in the task that lies ahead.”